Belichick: 'Outburst' and plane incidents complete fabrications

Belichick's opening statement on Moss

By Mike Reiss

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Patriots coach Bill Belichick arrived at the podium for his news conference and – after joking if there were any questions about the bye week -- opened with the following statement:

“I thought I would try to shed a little light on the trade with Randy. I’m sure I’m not going to be able to answer all the questions that you have. I’d just say that Randy was really a pleasure to coach. I enjoyed having him on our team. He made a lot of contributions to this football team. When I spoke with Randy yesterday morning, the conversations were consistent with what they’ve been for the last four years – honest, open, very forthright. We talked about a lot of things that I’ll keep between Randy and myself. In the end, it was a difficult decision, but one that I feel is in the best interest of the football team.

“Our team, organizationally, we’ve had conversations and obviously are comfortable with the trade. We wish Randy the absolute best. He’s been a player I’ve had a good relationship with. He’s very honest, when I’ve asked him questions about football and personnel and things like that. He’s been very helpful to me personally. He’s been very professional and I think a good teammate and a good contributing member of this team.

“But in the end, that was the decision. I have confidence in our players, that if they continue to work hard and improve that we’ll be competitive and be able to win games. That’s what we’re here to do – win games. We’ve won more games than any other team in the last decade. Hopefully we’ll continue to win them going forward. That’s what we’re here for.”

You’ve said over the years that your bottom-line philosophy is that you make decisions that are best for the football team. Why is this decision best for the team?
“It’s a combination of things. It’s pretty much a longer discussion than we’re going to have. It’s a combination of factors. I would say this – there was never any incident or discipline problem with Randy, there never has been one with me in four years. It certainly wasn’t about contract and money, I think Randy showed and proved from the first year he was here what that was all about. He [re-did] his contract and made the whole [trade from Oakland] work. I think you can eliminate those two things.”

Some fans said they were confused by this trade. Can you explain further?
“It was done in the best interests of the football team. It’s a combination of things. As I said, I don’t think I can answer every single question for you. I’m not going to try to.”

There are reports that there was a discussion, or non-discussion, between you and Randy on the plane back from Miami. Can you talk about …
“Absolutely not true. I didn’t talk to Randy on the plane. I just said, there is no incident, I’ve never had one with Randy. Never. Not in four years.”

http://espn.go.com/blog/BostonNew-E.../4684777/belichicks-opening-statement-on-moss


That's just a small extract of some of Bill's Q&A after his opening statement... The rest should leak out momentarily.

Matw said:

Just got through watching Belichick's 11:45am presser...

- Said there has never been any discipline issues with Moss in the four years he has been here and that the Miami halftime outburst and plane incidents are complete media fabrications.

- Said Moss was a pleasure to coach and that the team decided to move on for a "combination of reasons".

- When asked if Brady had lobbied on behalf of Randy he said that Brady has no input on personnel decisions.

Interesting stuff...

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Well, this is typical BB spin. BB may have forgotten "LateGate", but the fans haven't. And while it may not have been an "discipline issue", Moss was disciplined.

And Burton has brought out what happened during the Kick-off Dinner, the Week 1 Anthem Antics and the Week 1 Special Teams Huddle Antics. None of which BB acknowledged.

And, in all honesty, I think the Pats dealt Randy before they discipline became a bigger issue.

as per curran

Seems more and more that Moss' interests were weighed in this decision. Asked BB after press conference and he wouldn't bite.

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Bella*chick said:

What I believe is that the simplest explanation tends to be the correct one. And having BB just up and decide to trade a cheerful, happy and productive Moss mid-season for a third rounder for absolutely no reason other than charity towards Moss's desire to have a long-term contract somewhere is absolutely asinine.

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The simplest explanation is that BB likes Moss and feels like he is getting unwarranted negative press. If Moss really was a distraction, I doubt they would have traded him to MINNESOTA. A team he wanted to end his career with (07' Patriots Superbowl presser)

Randy Moss doesn't have a future in New England and a third rounder in next years draft is better then a 5th rounder two years from now. The team is constantly looking to the future. Moss is 33, still a great player that could help the team this season, but 33. Moss being gone forces young players on offense to step up. This is a long term decision that could end up paying off for the Pats.

Edit - remember the Richard Seymour trade. He wasn't someone that causes locker room distractions, right? They traded him even though he would help the team in the short run.

Yfz01 said:

The simplest explanation is that BB likes Moss and feels like he is getting unwarranted negative press.

Randy Moss doesn't have a future in New England and a third rounder in next years draft is better then a 5th rounder two years from now. The team is constantly looking to the future. Moss is 33, still a great player that could help the team this season, but 33. Moss being gone forces young players on offense to step up. This is a long term decision that could end up paying off for the Pats.

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That is an explanation but I think the simplest one based on what we know of Randy and NEP is that Randy was potentially a distraction and it was time to move him out before it negatively affected the team. Because it if was all about the future in NEw England then it should have been in the offseason when there was potential to shop around a bit more and when it wouldn't be a mid-season distraction.

And I heard that Randy spoke to no one on the plane so I'm not sure how it was a lie for BB to say he never spoke to Randy on the plane. I never heard about a plane outburst at all, just that he talked to no one and it was a tense flight.

Bella*chick said:

I think this falls under the heading of not being quite truthful.

As if he would tell the media what really happened.

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I can't think of a time when Bill Belichick has made a straight-forward statement to the media that has been a lie. He has many ways of avoiding a question which he has shown that he is more than happy to use. Not sure why you wouldn't believe that he is speaking the truth about this.

BB usually does not burn bridges with players. I think he always has it in mind that someone could come back in unforseen circumstances, so why close the door by pissing someone off.

I'm getting old and don't follow the league as closely as I used to, but I cannot remember an in-season trade of a superstar that didn't involve a holdout or similar. If this has happened before, who were the players and what were the circumstances? I honestly cannot think of others.

BB is taking the high road and the team will follow suit, but I'm convinced a lot of crap was going on behind the scenes. This action is just so rare.

Regards,
Chris

Bella*chick said:

That is an explanation but I think the simplest one based on what we know of Randy and NEP is that Randy was potentially a distraction and it was time to move him out before it negatively affected the team. Because it if was all about the future in NEw England then it should have been in the offseason when there was potential to shop around a bit more and when it wouldn't be a mid-season distraction.

And I heard that Randy spoke to no one on the plane so I'm not sure how it was a lie for BB to say he never spoke to Randy on the plane. I never heard about a plane outburst at all, just that he talked to no one and it was a tense flight.

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Troy Brown was the one who mentioned that several players told him of an "altercation" between Moss and Teammates on the flight. There was another report that BB approached Moss to talk to him, but that Moss declined.

Also, the Steve Burton revelations about the Kick-off Dinner and the Game 1 shenanigans is pretty damning..

dont know what the truth is but i personally like the way BB handled it and has handled all other trades post mortems. he doesnt come out ballistic and pointing fingers like other coaches, gives minimal explanations which as frustrating as they maybe help bury the story and move forward quickly.

"When I spoke with Randy yesterday morning, the conversations were consistent with what they’ve been for the last four years – honest, open, very forthright. We talked about a lot of things that I’ll keep between Randy and myself."


What does that mean? Those were part of a carefully crafted opening statement. It almost makes it seem that it wasn't as good-natured as we initially led to believe.

Bella*chick said:

That is an explanation but I think the simplest one based on what we know of Randy and NEP is that Randy was potentially a distraction and it was time to move him out before it negatively affected the team. Because it if was all about the future in NEw England then it should have been in the offseason when there was potential to shop around a bit more and when it wouldn't be a mid-season distraction.

And I heard that Randy spoke to no one on the plane so I'm not sure how it was a lie for BB to say he never spoke to Randy on the plane. I never heard about a plane outburst at all, just that he talked to no one and it was a tense flight.

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Why would Moss be so negative on the flight? He was probably tired... I mean, they had him run 20+ yards on every pass play in the first half and he didn't half ass a single one of them.

Moss seemed in good spirits when Rap Sheet was around. So I don't know exactly what would have changed that.

TruthSeeker said:

I can't think of a time when Bill Belichick has made a straight-forward statement to the media that has been a lie. He has many ways of avoiding a question which he has shown that he is more than happy to use. Not sure why you wouldn't believe that he is speaking the truth about this.

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Maybe forthcoming is a better word.

But I never heard that Randy had an outburst on the plane, or that BB and he had words on the plane. So I don't believe BB was lying at all. But I did hear that Randy spoke to no one on the plane and what BB said does not contradict that.

maybe this is an explanation...maybe the bosses asked BB to make this done ASAP

It Is What It Is Randy Moss, ownership were at odds

Many reports stemming from news outlets all over the nation cite the main reason for Randy Moss‘ departure from the Patriots was due to strained relationships with the players and coaches. But now, according to the Boston Herald, the problems may have run much deeper than originally thought, citing a rift between the organization’s ownership and Moss as a main factor in the trade.

Ultimately, there was a large falling out between the wideout and the team, and it was a “mutual parting,” the Herald stated.

However, WEEI’s John Dennis of the Dennis & Callahan show said Thursday morning that he spoke with members within the organization, as well as with people who knew people in the organization, and said that he was told Moss was traded “not because of anything he had done internally, … but remarkably in anticipation of what the organization believed he was about to do.”

ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi said that the Moss trade was not something the team was looking to do originally, and was not a want of the players, but was something that “needed to happen.”

The Herald reports that Moss will be featured on tickets for the upcoming Oct. 17 matchup at Gillette Stadium against the Baltimore Ravens.

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SVN said:

dont know what the truth is but i personally like the way BB handled it and has handled all other trades post mortems. he doesnt come out ballistic and pointing fingers like other coaches, gives minimal explanations which as frustrating as they maybe help bury the story and move forward quickly.

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Yeah, compare and contrast to John Fox and Dwayne Jarrett in Carolina.

Well, this is going to kill the "Bill doesn't lie"/"Moss was a problem" crowd. They aren't going to know which way to jump.

I have a question if the reports are true that this deal was talked about last week and was going to come down early this week. Why did the Pats even take the chance Moss gets hurt in the Miami game and there goes the trade.

I don't think Randy will be able not to talk about what happened. Like the rambling presser after the Cinci game, he's gonna spill it all!

Patsrock said:

I have a question if the reports are true that this deal was talked about last week and was going to come down early this week. Why did the Pats even take the chance Moss gets hurt in the Miami game and there goes the trade.

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What are you suggesting, the Pats should have made Moss inactive for the game? Active but not see the field at all?

Yeah, that would have gone over really well - especially if the deal had fallen apart.

No one said there was and "Out Burst" on the plane. What was said was BB went to the back of the plane to talk to RM, and RM was unresponsive, he wouldn't talk to BB. Moss wouldn't talk/respond to team mates that went back to talk to him.